Under 13s Football

U13 is the step up to 11v11 on a near-adult pitch. Ball remains Size 4. FA heading guidelines permit up to 1 session per week with a maximum 5 headers per player per session. This is the typical age for academy scouts to start serious assessment.

The FA's development phase for Under 13s is Game Understanding — full pitch awareness, role specialisation, set-piece routines. That means training sessions should weight ball mastery, decision-making, and enjoyment over tactical complexity, with progressively more game-realistic small-sided practices as players move through the season.

If this is your child's first season at U13, start with our first match guide covering kit, arrival times, and matchday etiquette. For boots that suit U13 pitch types, see our football boots buying guide.

Common questions at U13: how much should my child train each week? When should I let them play in goal? What if they aren't enjoying it? See our advice hub and FAQ for age-appropriate guidance.